Suture securement devices

Abstract

Some disclosed suture securement devices comprise a flat, thin, generally planar body that has one or more suture engagement slots extending into the body from a perimeter inlet for receiving sutures laterally into the device. The slots can be resiliently widened to receive a suture and then released to clamp onto the suture. Some embodiments include two or more such suture engagement slots that independently receive and secure different sutures. Some embodiments include one or more locking tabs that have a closed position that retains the slots against widening and blocks the inlet to the slot. In some embodiment two or more slots are position next to each other on the same side of the device, while in other embodiments slots are positioned on opposite sides of the device. Other types of suture securement devices are also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for securing sutures, comprising:
 a flat, thin, generally planar body comprising a resiliently deformable material; 
 a first suture engagement slot having a narrow, tortuous shape that extends into the body from a first inlet at a perimeter of the body; and 
 a second suture engagement slot having a narrow, tortuous shape that extends into the body from the first inlet or from a second inlet at the perimeter of the body; 
 wherein the first and second suture engagement slots are each configured to receive a suture through an associated inlet and the narrow, tortuous shapes of the suture engagement slots are configured to apply a pinching force to the suture when received in the slot such that the device secures to the suture and resists the suture from moving axially through the device along a longitudinal axis of the suture and resists the suture from moving laterally out of the device through the associated inlet; and 
 wherein the device further comprises a first hole passing through the body and a second hole passing through the body, the first and second holes being positioned on opposing sides of the first suture engagement slot and spaced apart laterally from the first suture engagement slot, wherein the first and second holes are configured to receive a tool that applies a separation force to the first suture engagement slot. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the narrow, tortuous shapes of the first and second suture engagement slots comprise at least three alternating apices. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second suture engagement slots are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second suture engagement slots are positioned side-by-side and the first and second inlets are adjacent to each other on one side of the perimeter. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second suture engagement slots are positioned on opposite sides of the device and the first and second inlets are positioned opposite sides of the perimeter. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein inner ends of the first and second suture engagement slots join relief openings fully contained within the body that reduce stress concentrations in the body when the first and second suture engagement slots are widened, and wherein the relief openings have a width greater than a width of the suture engagement slots. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes at least a first locking tab that has a closed position wherein at least the first suture engagement slot is retained against widening and at least the first inlet is blocked. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking tab has two or more closed positions wherein an associated suture engagement slot is retained against widening, and the associated suture engagement slot has a different width when the first locking tab is in each of the two or more closed positions. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first locking tab that has a closed position wherein the first suture engagement slot is retained against widening, and wherein the body includes a second locking tab that has a closed position wherein the second suture engagement slot is retained against widening. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tortuous shapes of the first and second suture engagement slots include portions that extend substantially perpendicularly to an overall direction of the slot. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second holes are also positioned on opposing sides of the second suture engagement slot and spaced apart laterally from the second suture engagement slot, wherein the first and second holes are configured to receive a separation device that widens the first and second suture engagement slots. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third hole passing through the body and a fourth hole passing through the body, the third and fourth holes being positioned on opposing sides of the second suture engagement slot and spaced apart laterally from the second suture engagement slot, wherein the third and fourth holes are configured to receive a separation device that widens the second suture engagement slot. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second holes are discrete from the first and second suture engagement slots, such that a suture positioned in the either of the first and second suture engagement slot cannot move laterally into either of the first and second holes. 
     
     
       14. A device for securing sutures, comprising:
 a flat, thin, generally planar body comprising a resiliently deformable material; 
 a suture engagement slot that extends into the body from an inlet at a perimeter of the body, wherein the suture engagement slot is configured to receive a suture laterally through the inlet and has a narrow, tortuous portion configured to apply a pinching force to the suture such that the device secures to the suture and resists the suture from moving axially through the device along a longitudinal axis of the suture; 
 a locking tab that has an open position wherein the suture engagement slot is permitted to widen such that a suture can enter laterally through the inlet into the narrow, tortuous portion of the suture engagement slot, and the locking tab has a closed position wherein the suture engagement slot is retained against widening and the inlet is blocked; and 
 a first hole passing through the body and a second hole passing through the body, the first and second holes being positioned on opposing sides of the suture engagement slot and spaced apart laterally from the suture engagement slot, wherein the first and second holes are configured to receive a tool that applies a separation force to the suture engagement slot. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the locking tab has two or more different closed positions that each correspond a different maximum width of the suture engagement slot. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the locking tab forms a ratcheting mechanism to allow the locking tab to move from a first closed position to a second closed position by applying a compression force on the device, wherein the suture engagement slot has a smaller width in the second closed position compared to the first closed position. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a second locking tab. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the locking tab is resiliently deformed in the open position and is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a second suture engagement slot in the body, and wherein the locking tab retains the second suture engagement slot against widening when the locking tab is in the closed position. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the narrow, tortuous portions comprises at least three alternating apices.